Block Grants Fail To Respond to Need

By Qing Wai Wong, PHP Fellow

April 5, 2017

Databyte

The American Health Care Act may be dead, but the idea of block grants will continue to emerge in subsequent reform debates. For example, SNAP block grants have been proposed within the House Republican Budget Resolutions for the last six years, cutting funding for the program by $125 billion over 10 years.

Under a block grant, the federal government gives states a fixed amount of money to administer a program.
Block grants are problematic because they limit the ability of state leaders to respond to changing needsTwitter
such as during an economic downturn when more people need help. If a state does not have sufficient funding for a program, it has few options: raise taxes, restrict eligibility, create waiting lists, cut benefits, or siphon funds from another crucial program within the state. All of these options make vulnerable populations more vulnerable.

Qing Wai is a current MPH candidate at the Boston University School of Public Health pursuing certificates in Health Policy and Epidemiology. Her interests include policies that reduce health disparities and equal access to quality education as an important social determinant of health. When not pursuing her academic interests, Qing Wai can be found on the volleyball court, running, or volunteering for various youth development programs in the community.